Life remains crippled for day 2 due to strike in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 25: Life remained crippled for the second day on Saturday due to restrictions and spontaneous strike in the Kashmir valley, where where Ansar Gazwatul Hind chief Zakir Musa was killed in an encounter by security forces in Pulwama district during over 12 hours Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) which ended early Friday.

Police said restrictions remained imposed under Section 144 CrPC on Saturday in areas falling under five police stations of downtown and Shehar-e-Khas (SeK). The gates of historic Jamia Masjid remained closed to prevent people from assembling there. Due to restrictions no Friday prayers could be offered in the historic Masjid, stronghold of moderate Hurriyat Conference (HC) chairman Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq, who used to address congregation every Friday.

Security forces and state police personnel remained deployed in the Jamia market and near main gate of the worship place. Nobody was being allowed to enter the masjid. All roads leading to masjid have been closed with barbed wire and by parking bullet proof vehicles in the middle at Rangar stop, Nowhatta, Gojwara, Rajouri Kadal and Khanyar.

The Nallahmar road, from Nawa Kadal to Khanyar remained closed for any traffic or pedestrian movement. Security forces had blocked the road at several places with barbed wire and people are being directed to remain indoor. People living on both sides of the road alleged that they were not being allowed to move out by the security forces deployed after every ten feet. They said milkmen and vegetable sellers from outskirts were not allowed to enter the restricted areas. There were clashes between demonstrators and security forces last night in some of the down town and SeK areas.

There were no restrictions elsewhere in Srinagar though security forces and state police personnel remained deployed in strength to prevent any law and order problem. However, business and other activities remained parlysed and traffic was off the roads in the city. Shops and business remained closed at business hubs of Residency road, Moulana Azad road, Regal chowk, Gantaghar, historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, Hari Singh High Street (HSHS), Dalgate, Maisuma, Batmaloo, Mehraj Bazar and Iqbal park.
However, in the uptown some shops selling vegetables, meat and chicken were open and some private vehicles were also seen plying. Roadside vendors were also seen at some places.

Restrictions also continued in Tral, Anantnag and some other towns and tehsil headquarters in south Kashmir, a report from Anantnag said. Majority roads remained closed with barbed wire in Tral and Anantnag to strictly implement restrictions. Shops and business establishments elsewhere in the restriction free areas in south Kashmir remained closed and traffic off the roads.

A report from Baramulla said life remained crippled with shops and business establishments remaining closed and traffic off the roads in major towns and tehsil headquarters in north Kashmir. Security forces have been deployed on main roads, connecting down town with civil lines in Baramulla and Sopore. Business activities also remained paralysed in Kupwara , Bandipora and Handwara.

Similar reports were also received from central Kashmir districts of Ganderbal and Badgam, including Charar-e-Sharief, Chadoora and Beerwah.